heart condition at high altitude

[afvsnobrd]

I have had 4 stents placed 1 year ago. I am on Plavix. I will be traveling to Cusco, Peru for 5 weeks on a medical mission. I have asked my cardiologist this but he does not have a definite answer. Will the altitude be a problem with my blood level, eg. altitude stimulates production of RBCs and blood becomes "thicker". Will my stents be jeapordized and will I be more likely to have clotting problems or the chance of arterial blockage(stroke,etc). Cusco is at 11,000 feet.
I have improved my health and exercise daily on treadmill.

[.john57]

An increase in red blood cell mass is known as polycythemia. Normal physiological increases in the RBC count occurs at high altitudes or after strenuous physical training. At high altitudes, less atmospheric weight pushes air into the lungs, causing a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen and hypoxia. With strenuous physical training, increased muscle mass demands more oxygen. The drugs gentamicin and methyldopa have been associated with increasing the number of red blood cells. Smokers also have a higher number of red blood cells than non-smokers

That was a cut + paste, I did not know that either.

[Jack54]

I went to Denver CO less than a month after receiving my 5th stent (LAD). Ok that's a mile high. We went to the Rocky Mountain National Park at around 12,000 feet. Didn't go all the way or to Pike's Peak, but I felt like really bad. I didn't know about the RBCs and thicker blood........Having eval for bypass Tuesday. Good luck :)

[Cihindy]

I'll leave that one for the docs...."tough question"